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Sportbikes are made to go fast, handle well, and deliver top-level performance. Of course, with top-level performance, a rider needs top-level gear.
Your helmet is perhaps your most important piece of equipment. After all, when riding at such high speeds, a fall or impact could do a lot of damage. You need that extra protection.
Rather than blindly searching through stores or online for the best helmet, we’re going to walk you through the buying process. Check out our buyer’s guide and our picks for the best sportbike helmets of 2020.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Sport Bike Helmets
- OUR TOP PICK: MRC Motorcycle Helmet FF98
- RUNNER-UP: Arai XD4
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: MRC Sport Bike Helmet FF10
Comparison of the Best Sports Bike Helmets
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What is a Sport Bike Helmet Used For?
Sportbikes helmets are most effective when used with some kind of sportbike. Since sportbikes are useful for a wide range of activities, you can also use their corresponding helmets for these same areas.
Touring
Touring often involves wide open roads and mighty engines. In a lot of cases, a sport bike helmet may not be necessary for touring. Many bikers who tour are enjoying the scenery and the open roads - riding for the sake of riding.
However, you can tour on a sportbike at high speeds. Many open roads across the country are fun and excellent for riding a sportbike fast, and since sportbikes have great control and braking, there’s no reason not to enjoy fast touring.
Off-Roading
Off-roading is when you ride any kind of vehicle on an unsurfaced road. This activity is prevalent among jeeps, trucks, and four-wheelers, but of course, sportbike riders enjoy it as well.
Because the roads are not paved and have some unpredictable bumps and holes along the way, it’s a good idea to use a sport bike helmet when doing it. The full coverage that this helmet provides makes it excellent for any falls that might occur on these rugged roads.
Racing
Many people who ride sportbikes do so on a race track. It’s not always a race against another person, but sometimes just a race against a personal time. Either way, a fast pace calls for some high-quality safety and protection, and a sport bike helmet can help provide that in these circumstances.
What Makes a Helmet Great for Sport Biking?
There are quite a few things that make a helmet great for sport biking, but we’re just going to touch on some of the critical points that you should be looking for.
Safety
First and foremost, our goal with any kind of motorcycle helmet is going to be safety. You can judge safety in a variety of ways—one way is to look at the helmet’s professional certifications. If a helmet has DOT, ECE, or Snell certifications, you can rest assured that it’s high-quality.
Other safety features might include a quick release option for accidents or extensive foam padding systems within the helmet.
Comfort & Fit
If a helmet doesn’t fit right, it can’t offer the correct amount of protection that it should. That being said, sportbike helmets often come super tight. You may even feel like it’s a size too small. However, it will break in and loosen up, and that’s important to know.
Foam padding inside of the helmet should also add to the fit and the comfort of your helmet. Another excellent comfort feature is good ventilation in multiple locations on the helmet.
Face Shield
Your face shield plays into both safety and comfort. Visibility is significant when operating any kind of vehicle, and it’s essential when riding a sportbike.
Many well-constructed helmets include a clear shield with a built-in sun visor that comes down and over the transparent part. Others will come with replacement visor shields that you can swap in and out with the clear shield.
The best face shields are scratch resistant as well as anti-fog to ensure you always have a clear view.
Review of the Best Sports Bike Helmets
Now that you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, take a look at our review of the top picks on the market today.
Best Overall:
MRC Motorcycle Helmet FF98
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers report that this helmet is a real deal. Without paying too much out of pocket, you get a cool-looking product with tons of safety features. Users love the shields and also praise the vents, as it makes the helmet comfortable to wear - especially in the heat.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Whether your style is matte black or racer stripes blue, the MRC Motorcycle helmet gets the job done. This beautifully-designed piece of equipment uses aerodynamic ABS plastic mold to deliver hard shell protection. The multi-density expanded polystyrene helps to absorb impact, which is critical for safety purposes.
We also love the multiple vents, the anti-scratch visor, and the soundproofing and warmth for the colder months. This product is DOT certified and approved and ready to hit the road.
Bottom Line
When you consider the cost, the features, and the overall appearance, you can clearly tell you’re getting a good deal with this helmet. This is an excellent piece for both beginners and experienced riders.
Runner-up:
Arai XD4
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Many of the recent buyers of this product come from using other brands and say they’ll never go back. Some of the top features mentioned by customers include the lightweight feel, the great fit, and the excellent ventilation. Plus, they all love how it looks.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Arai is a well-trusted brand in this industry. Their XD4 model comes in a wide range of color options to match its cool shape and design, so you can customize your riding experience a little bit.
The round, oval shape delivers excellent aerodynamics, while the vent and exhaust system keeps the helmet breathable. New additions to this model add safety, stability, and comfort. It uses a patented Facial Contour Support system inside, and the newly rounded chin bar protects you during spills.
Bottom Line
This product is great for cruising, touring, street bikes, and adventure touring, with a hard outer shell and an emergency cheek pad release system. Excellent internal support and stability wrap this up into the perfect runner-up on our list.
Best for the Money:
MRC Sport Bike Helmet FF10
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Reviews show that buyers were delighted with their purchase. Although the helmet looks great online, it looks even better in person featuring all the bells and whistles that it claims. And with all the different colors and designs, it’s got a little something for everyone.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Once again, we are drawn in by the design of this beautiful helmet. However, we can’t help but notice its tough polycarbonate shell that’s both strong and lightweight. The comfort padding on the inside is definitely a plus, and the advanced venting technology keeps your face cool and fresh.
Not only does this helmet meet DOT standards, but it also comes with both clear and dark shields with quick release options. It looks great and feels even better, which is all we can ask for.
Bottom Line
When you’re looking for the best bang for your buck in terms of helmets, it can be tough to know where to compromise. That’s why we love this helmet for your money. It’s not going to break the bank, but it’s still going to deliver the protection you need for your sportbike.
Best Bluetooth Sport Bike Helmet:
TORC T15B Helmet
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Some buyers have reported issues with customer service, but that’s not enough to deter from the actual product. Some minor problems include internal seams that tend to rub against the ears, but other than that, customers seem thrilled with the overall design of this helmet. The break-in period ends up a little loose, so we recommend sizing down perhaps.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The first thing that stands out to us about this TORC model helmet is the truly remarkable design. You can showcase your patriotism with the glossy black and silver stars and stripes decal that will have everyone’s heads turning.
On top of that, this helmet dons a scratch-resistant and fog-free shield with a built-in sun visor. Plus, all of its construction is certified DOT and ECE. After all of the excellent construction, the built-in Blinc Bluetooth technology is just a bonus to jam out while you ride.
Bottom Line
Look cool, feel good, and rock out. This helmet delivers on every level in our book, keeping you stylish the whole ride home.
Best Bell Sport Bike Helmet:
Bell Ghost Revolver Evo Helmet
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
While some buyers report that the fit on this helmet is a little tight, others note that the tight fit breaks in nicely, and you end up with perfect, snug protection. Users agree that it’s got a nice look to it, the aerodynamics are good, and the anti-fog shield is top-notch.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Bell has remained a top brand in the sportbike industry since the 1950s, making it easy to trust its longevity. Aside from that, we truly think this is a solid product. Not only does it have a nice finish, but it also delivers an excellent fit for maximum comfort.
This model boasts a redesigned eyeport seal with an effective sunshade that features great anti-fog characteristics, even when the vents are closed. It’s very stable and aerodynamic, which is perfect for reaching top speeds.
Bottom Line
The Bell Ghost Revolver Evo is made for speed. It’s a fantastic choice for street touring, cruising, all-terrain, and racing, and it delivers excellent visibility and protection.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Sport Bike Helmet?
Typically, the first thing you need to do when buying a motorcycle helmet is to choose which style you need. Luckily for us, many sportbike helmets come in the same general style. In sportbike riding, it’s best to have a full-face helmet as opposed to an open face or a modular helmet. That way, your entire head, and face are protected.
Full face helmets offer other additional features that are particularly conducive to riding a sportbike. For example, these helmets actually provide a broader scope of vision. They also usually deliver as much ventilation as possible while still shield your face from the elements.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s also crucial to note that the fit of your sportbike helmet should be snug. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable, but it may feel slightly compressive. In fact, it will likely feel too small before the break-in period is over.
Sport Bike vs Street Bike Helmets - Comparison Overview
Generally speaking, street bike helmets are made for more casual riding and cruising. When you look for a street bike helmet, you can find them in the open face and half-face designs, where there is more exposure to your chin and face.
Sportbike helmets usually offer more coverage, more ventilation, and more protection. This is because they are geared towards more extreme activities such as racing and off-roading.
These days, you can find street bike helmets that look more like sportbike helmets, but it’s unlikely that you will ever find a sport bike helmet that’s not full-face coverage.
Conclusion
If you’re into the more extreme side of riding, you likely havethe more extreme equipment needs. A standard street bike helmet simply isn’t going to cut it when your riding dirt back roads and racing around a track. Try out one of these sportbike helmets for better protection and a cooler look.
People Also Ask
Consumers of certain products often have similar questions that they’re looking to answer. To make your buying process easier, we have compiled a few FAQs with helpful answers.
How Much Should I Spend on a Sport Bike Helmet?
When it comes to safety, you should always budget a little extra. However, there are definitely options - some included on our list above - of helmets that have good safety qualities but won’t break the bank. You’re looking at spending anywhere between $50 and $300 on average for a sport bike helmet.
How Long Should a Sport Bike Helmet Last?
Most sportbike helmets should last about five years, as that is the industry standard. But, if you were in a crash and your helmet took on an impact, that will cut the lifespan short, and you should no longer use that helmet.
For a Sport Bike Helmet, What is a Good Helmet Weight?
On average, most motorcycle helmets weigh around 3 ¼ to 3 ½ pounds. You may find some sportbike helmets that weigh closer to 5 pounds. Most riders prefer a lighter weight for more comfort.
How to Tell a Helmet Designed for a Cruiser vs a Helmet Designed for a Sport Bike
Sportbike helmets will always offer full coverage and protection. You can almost always count on a sport bike helmet to have its certifications. It should also be full-face coverage with protection around the head, chin, and face. These helmets usually include hard, plastic shell materials and good ventilation.
A cruiser helmet is often half-face or open face coverage, which is not ideal for a sportbike.
What Shell Material Should I Look for in a Sport Bike Helmet?
Many sportbike helmets use thermoplastic materials, generally polycarbonate. This material is inexpensive yet durable. You can also find these helmets with fiberglass or aramid. There are also shells made of composite, carbon, and kevlar.
What is a Dual Sport Motorcycle Helmet?
Dual sport helmets eliminate the choice between an off-road helmet and a full-face helmet. They offer enough protection to take you from the road to the back roads and can even be used in motocross. Unlike standard full-face helmets, a dual sport helmet usually has a peak, which is basically a visor that juts out and helps with bright sunlight.
